Before we bid adieu to winter and say hello to Spring in a few weeks, we wanted to squeeze in one more gorgeous winter wedding and share all its pretty details. This styled shoot is all about elegance, class, and beauty. The stunning venue, the breathtaking flowers, and the bride and groom make this winter wedding shoot super chic. With the fabulous talent of Alexanders Studios, the images has us swooning. If you are still feeling the winter season, then warm up with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy this Southern Winter wedding.

The dry grasses are not dead for me. A beautiful form has as much life at one season as another. -Henry David Thoreau

Though spring delivers beams of hope and renewal, the long winter that proceeds it can often bear down on our souls with dreary gray monotony – unless we have love. Love has no season. It is impermeable by cold or heat. In fact, some may argue it gains strength through the winter, when it is the sole source of gladness and warmth. The stark white, silver, and gray of winter is warmed by just a sprinkle of red love, and this styled shoot captures that contrast.The bride and groom models in this shoot are real-life sweethearts. Their romance has been one of budding beauty. When the bride model moved from her cold home state last year, she ventured into a renewed life in North Carolina that surprised her with warmth and love. From the groom model: “In February of 2014, she moved from the frozen wasteland of Wisconsin and started visiting Church. That first Sunday she attended was the first time that I was leading worship for the service. As she walked through the doors and saw me up on stage, she had an overwhelming feeling that this was the person she had been looking for her whole life.”

As we shot photos of this sweet couple, the bitter cold winds of winter blew through the leafless trees. Intermittent bursts of sunshine warmed our bodies, but the love between these two sweethearts warmed their souls. Sharing their love on camera encouraged the groom model to reminisce about his first encounter with his beloved. “As she walked up the stairs and I saw her for the first time, I was struck by how beautiful she was…I was convinced that if there was anyone in the world that I could love, it was her.” It was as if he had experienced a glimpse of spring in her beauty, and he could not go back to living in a loveless winter. “As our interest grew in each other, I began looking for an opportunity to talk to her dad, to ask him for permission to date his daughter,” the groom model explained.“We have simply fallen deeper and deeper in love with each passing day. We are so excited to see how the Lord will work in our lives together in the future, for we know thatGod orchestrated our relationship from the start.”Where summer’s heat drives us to shed heavy layers, the cold of winter beckons us to add more…more lace…more fur…more texture… in order to compensate for winter’s starkness. The fur stole the bride wore in this shoot makes one warmer just by gazing at it.

The dark red flowers in her bouquet add life to the wintery surroundings. The texture of the jewels add another layer of beauty. Even the detailed antique china warms the dining space in a way that the simplicity of summer cannot convey. And, of course, the closeness of the couple encourages warmth of body and spirit.Winter does not deliver an absence of warmth or love…it is actually the ideal season for more! With warm touches of red, textured pieces, and layers of luxury, this styled shoot shows how love can warm the coldest of hearts.

Here at BHL headquarters located in Southern California, we do not see much snow around here, so when we have a dreamy winter wedding to feature, we are totally head over heels in love. Rich sumptuous colors, roaring log fires, a gorgeous handcrafted bouquet made by the mother of the bride, beautiful snowy day as the backdrop, and this wedding is romantic and magical. Then you have Marianne Wiest Photography behind the lens to capture it all, and you have a handful of stunning images which has us swooning over all the pretty details. Cozy up to this lovely winter wedding, and enjoy the romance!

This sweet, cute and goofy couple had a cold and snowy, but absolutely beautiful wedding in Missoula, Montana. Luckily they were used to the cold since they are from Nome, Alaska!

Jake and Kaley have known each other for 10 years. They met in Kalispell, MT, and were friends through mutual friends. Kaley was in a relationship at the time, so was not interested in more than a friendship. Jake moved to Alaska and they went our separate ways. They didn’t have contacted for 4 years. One night, Kaley’s friend Sara was trying to set her up with a friend. We talked about relationships and Kaley mentioned how she and Jake always had a connection. They spent the night on google looking for info and pictures of Jake. The next day, Sara called the last known bank he had worked at and pretended he did a loan for her. Reluctantly, the bank gave her his number because he had moved to Fairbanks. She called him and told him he needed to get in touch with Kaley. Jake called later that week and they began a long distance relationship for 2 years until Kaley moved to Alaska.

One of Kaley’s favorite things to do in Nome is to comb the beach for sea glass along the Bering Sea. It was in May and she was leaving for Montana the next day to spend the summer with family. Jake and Kaley went to collect sea glass on the beach. As they were walking along collecting glass, Jake got down and said “I think I found a piece of glass you will really like” Kaley looked down and he was on one knee with a wedding ring. Of course I couldn’t believe he was proposing right before she was leaving but she was so happy that they were going to get married. I said “yes”

They began planning a winter wedding in Missoula, Montana, which was close to both of their families. They figured a Christmas/winter wedding would be convenient for family that had time off of work were traveling home for the holidays.

Although the blizzard made for bad driving conditions, the snow added a beautiful element to the photos. And the 1953 Chevy, restored by the groom’s father, was an added bonus as a prop! Jake’s dad Gerry rebuilt the truck from the ground up. The exact same model driven by 3 generations in Jake’s family.

Instead of a cake, the couple had a local bakery make blueberry pies out of blueberries they had handpicked and brought with them all the way from Alaska. This way they could have a little bit of Alaska with them in Montana.

The bride chose natural colors that go along with burlap, eggplant, blush, and other natural tones. She wanted the wedding feel to be antique, the shabby chic with the lace and burlap. Instead of bouquets, the flower girls walked down the aisle with vintage fans.

On all of the wine bottles were from a book of love poems that the bride’s great grandma had given her mom. The lace, broaches in the bouquet and the gloves were from the bride’s great grandma. The bride’s mom made the bouquet and the bride made the boutonneires.

Brrr, it’s cold out there! It’s still chilly and will stay chilly for a few more weeks, are you prepared? If you’ve got your wedding or any wedding events on the horizon you’re going to need to be prepared to weather the weather (see what we did there?). Our top five tips will keep you looking perfect, no matter how pretty or ugly the weather can get.

Seal your Look

If you’re afraid that the rain or humidity outside will melt your makeup, do your part and seal it in. Start with a primer that stays put (we love the primers by Too Faced and Smashbox) before you do your makeup, and when you’re done use a sealing spray (like Model in a Bottle or Urban Decay). The sealers will hold all the color in place and keep your look from melting away. They’re perfect for day long events (like your rehearsal day or for the big day) or before you go out for an epic night.

Lip Butter Base

If the cold makes your skin that much more sensitive, you need to do what you can to keep your skin soft! Before you do your big bold red lips (that we are LOVING this Winter), swipe on a layer of moisturizing lip balms. We love Chapstick, EOS lip balms, and the Jack Black lip balms. Try swiping on some lip balm, doing all of your makeup and saving your lip color for last so the moisturizer absorbs into your lips. It’s also a great idea to swipe on a hearty amount of lip balm before you to go sleep. Trust us, you’ll wake up to the softest lips ever!

Liquid Liner

Liquid liner tends to have more lasting power than the pencil liners- when they dry they’re seriously stuck there until you clean your face. We love the pencil liquid liners because they’re easy to swipe on quickly and give you a lot of control when you apply. The Marc Jacobs liner is fantastic, but a splurge. If you’re on a budget, the Ulta brand liquid liner pen is a great value and stays put all day.

Liquid Concealer

If you’re hiding bags under your eyes or even some cold time breakouts, switch out our concealer for something liquid to keep your skin from drying out. If you have a blemish or a breakout, you’ll still need to keep your skin moisturized. We love the Kat von D Tattoo Concealer because it keeps your skin from drying out but also hides imperfections and breakouts like a champ.

Moisturizing Removers

Moisturizing should extend past your makeup- you should keep it in mind even while you’re taking your makeup off! We love the Neutrogena hydrating makeup wipes this time of year because it gets off every bit of makeup on your skin without drying your skin out. The cold can be so harsh that you need to sneak in those bits of moisture wherever you can!

We’re so heartbroken the holidays are all wrapped up! Our ornaments, lights, and trees are all packed up and put away. Our ugly sweaters are folded and tucked away for next year and our gingerbread houses are broken down into tupperware. As sad as it is to say goodbye to the holidays, we’re incredibly excited for New Year’s Eve! We’ve been so excited for the holidays that we almost forgot about New Year’s Eve (almost). If you’re going out for New Year’s Eve and need to put together an outfit, we can help you out with our favorite places to go get dolled up!

Ballin On a Budget

If you need a cute outfit and spent most of your money on your secret santa, we have a few favorite stores to hit up for cheap thrills. If you’re looking for something quick and cheap just for New Year’s Eve, hit up mall stores like Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe. Both stores have lines that are designed for a more mature audience that are flattering without screaming ‘spring break’. These outfits may not last for New Year’s Eves to come, but you’ll look great for the night and it won’t break the bank.

Go Old School

If you have an afternoon to kill today or tomorrow, go thrift store hopping (just be sure to drop it off at the cleaners really quick!). Thrift stores have a TON of fun outfits right now from people donating and cleaning out their houses while on break- it’s the perfect time to find some scores.

Sweat the Small Things

If you’re out near a big city or even a college town, you’re bound to have a small indie shopping district. In LA for example, you can shop tiny boutique shops up and down Melrose and get great outfits that are hard to find. This can be a great idea if you’re going out somewhere with a lot of people- you wouldn’t want to be seen in the same outfit as someone else! Since little fashion areas tend to be smaller designers and boutique shops, just be sure to try everything on. Sometimes pieces won’t fit the same measurements as mass produced pieces.

Second Changes

Are your bridesmaids dresses picked out? Surely you had a back up (or five!) that you were thinking about for your bridal party- why not give them a turn? Hit up the bridal shop and see if you can pick up one of your second choice dresses and dance around in it just for a night. Certain shops will let you borrow a dress for a night- and it can be cheap or free if you’ve already given or promised them enough business! It can be hard to pull off, but it’s not unheard of.

Swap with a Sister

Are you always jealous of your fashionista friend? Call her up and ask to borrow something you’ve been eyeing- just be prepared to trade her those shoes she’s been dying to borrow. You can play the bride card, say you’ve been too busy shopping for her Christmas present, or just that you needed an excuse to borrow it. Good girlfriends share everything- so be ready to offer up a temporary trade. And here’s a hint from us to you- get her some coffee or macaroons she’ll probably be more likely to trust you with her vintage pieces.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of our readers! No matter what you’re celebrating this season, take some time today to feel good about yourself, your family, your friends, and everything you’ve accomplished in 2014. The BHL staff is taking today to be with our families and enjoy the day off- we encourage the same of all our readers!

Our Editor-in-Chief Niloufar Gibson is enjoying the day with her husband Sean (below).

Niloufar has been loving all the Christmas trees in her neighborhood- look how beautiful this one is!

Associte Editor Andrea Carter is spending the day at home with her boyfriend, Tom.

They love Christmas because they get to go out with their friends they haven’t seen in a while (like Alana- hi Alana!).

No matter how you’re spending your day off, take some time to be with the people you love. Happy Holidays from everyone here at Bridal Hot List. Our from you has been an amazing 2014, and our gift to you will be a fun filled 2015!

Did you switch up your regular lip palette yet? The seasons have changed, it’s time to switch things up. If you’ve gotten on board with the rest of your beauty routine, it’s time to step up your mani/pedi game for the winter. It’s fair to opt out for a classic french mani for your big day (don’t worry, we won’t judge you!), but if you’re more adventurous or if you just want new fun shades for your bachelorette party we’ve got our top five picks for this season.

We Love Olive

For a more unexpected neutral, swoop up an earthy olive tone. This color is beautiful and complimentary of the woodsy nature of the holidays and winter in general. If you want to pair this with an outfit for your bachelorette party, get something bold in color but in the same color family- it’ll be the perfect pairing (just like you and your fiance!).

Sparkly Deep Tones

We love deep dark colors that balance out with glitter chunks for dimension. Paint this on over short nails for an edgy progressive look or on your toes for a fun sparkly surprise. This color really pops against a white dress and gives you a cool, chic look. The glitter is so necessary for making your mani that much more fun. If you wear this out with your bridesmaids, they’ll be totally jealous of how pretty your nails are.

Deep and Daring

If glitter chunks aren’t your thing, find a deep toned shade that you can layer to be as dark as you want it to be. Find something with a color-balancing sheen- like the color shown above. It skips the chunkier glitter in favor of a more subtle complexity in the shade. There is some glitter but it’s so small that it just creates a cool effect of changing a little bit when you change angles. This is for those girls who do a deep dark lipstick- if you’re daring enough for big bold lips, you’re daring enough for this!

Rudolph’s Red Mani

If you love those classics but want to adjust it for the holiday, a plummy red is perfect for you. Don’t go too dark or you can risk it looking a little vampy. You also want to skip the orange based reds and save those for the spring. A plummer red is complimentary for the season and still looks so perfect for all occasions. Red nails are just as perfect for weddings as a french mani, but that much sexier.

Galaxy-Inspired Nudes

If you want something subtle but fun, look for a warm nude shade that still has some glitter. Nothing says holidays like throwing glitter and sparkles all over everything! This nude is sheer enough to have your natural tones pull through but provides enough color to make your mani fun. This is more unconventional, so if you want to skip it for the wedding you can save it for the next bridesmaids’ night out.

The seasons are starting to change which means that it’s time to change up your color palette as well. If you’re getting hitched this season, or if you just have lots of wedding events on the horizon for the next few months, check out our picks for the top five colors for winter.

Bright Winter Kisses

If you’re not really a winter person, pick up a fun fuchsia color for this season. A lot of colors this season are a little more muted and darker, but if you love your brights go for it! We love this blue based fuschia to bring color to your face- and to pop against your white dress.

Mild Mauves

Tones like this warm raspberry will look beautiful and classic with anything you wear- so it’ll look great with your bridesmaids too. What’s great about this shade is that it’s not overpowering. It is beautiful and noticeable, but will still look balanced and great with full eye makeup. You can use this both for everyday or for the big day- it works no matter what you’re wearing this winter.

Cherry Bombshell

If you’re more into that classic pinup look, we like a really warm bold red look. When you image your wedding day, most people see a beautiful white dress and luscious red lips- this is our pick for winter brides! This shade is a little too deep for spring and summer, but looks so good for winter. You’ll be the belle of your own ball if you pair this with your white dress.

Plummy Nudes

If you’re not big on bright colors, aim for a plummy nude tone. Cold-toned nudes run the risk of washing your face out while it’s cold, so you want something that will bring color into your face. A subtle, nude plum warms your face up without overpowering your look. If you don’t usually wear makeup, this is perfect for your big day since it’s still true to your style.

Deep Wine Lips

If you’re a little more dramatic with your usual look, go for a bold deep red. If you want that Hollywood starlet look, these tones are perfect for you. You want the deepest, sultriest red you can find and be sure to line it with lots of liner to keep it from sliding around. Pair it with simple eyes- keep it to black eyeliner and big lashes and you’ve got an instant classic Hollywood bride.

Did you miss Black Friday? And Cyber Monday? Yikes! No worries, there are still a TON of sales, specials and promotions going on in time for the holidays. You’re going to want to try to get all of your holiday shopping done as soon as possible or you’ll end up at a mall at 11:30PM surrounded by angry, rushed shoppers. Yeah, that’s no fun. It’s a good idea to put your bridesmaids on your shopping list- they’re doing a lot to support you for your big day and you have the opportunity to thank them and give them something sweet. If you’re not sure what you can get to show you love them, we’ve got five awesome ideas that will be the perfect stocking stuffers.

For the Business-minded Bridesmaid

For the girl who comes late to bridal party planning because she’s always caught up in meetings- pick up something fun from a Staples or Office Depot. We love fun things like 2015 planners, fun shaped post-its, and awesome tape dispensers. Scotch makes these awesome tape dispensers in shapes like martini glasses, puppies, high heels, and lizards. It’s easy to find fun stuff for under $15, and you know they won’t regift it.

For the Sweet Toothed Bridesmaid

If you’re so over the mall and just want to fit your holiday shopping into your regular shopping, head over to do a specialty grocery store, like Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s has specialty packaged candy, chocolates, and even some home goods that are ready for holidays, like this holiday set of Joe-Joes. Just keep an eye out for the fun stuff while you pick up cereal and fruit. One of our picks is the chocolate sampler- it’s a small cube that has all sorts of different chocolates inside. It’s easy, a universal crowd pleaser, and will give your bridesmaids something to munch on while they’re watching you try on dresses.

For the Team Photographer

You know that one girl that immediately instagrams everything you all do as a group? She’s secretly dying to get a selfie stick but feels silly buying one for herself. For most this will be a gag gift, but if you get it for the right bridesmaid it’ll actually be used. Most selfie sticks can be under $20, and it’s not hard to find them for under $15. You can get one for your photo-friendliest friend in a color that matches her bridesmaid dress, so when she inevitably whips it out on the big day it won’t clash with her outfit.

For the Bag Lady

You know that one girl that comes out and needs a chair for her purse because she stuffs all sorts of fun stuff in her bag? You know how bummed she is everytime you go out and there’s no purse hooks at the bar? Fix that problem for her! Get a purse hook that she can stick in her purse and will create a place for her bag no matter where she goes. You can cruise etsy and find some awesome personalizable ones. You can put a picture of the both of you on there to remind her of how awesome you both are! She’ll thank you on your next girl’s night and she can have her purse next to her no matter where you go.

For the Bombshell Bridesmaid

For the bridesmaid of yours that keeps hinting that she can do your makeup- give her some new toys to play with! All your favorite brands are doing fun holiday packs right now so it’s the perfect time to buy for your bridesmaids. Our favorite store for deals right now is Ulta- they are constantly offering bonus freebies, bonus rewards points, and have the best packages for both high end and drugstore level cosmetics. We love the Benefit Benebalm package- there’s three whole sets of the Benebalm and Benetint shades that are individually packaged and ready for gifting. We also love this EOS gift set for your girlfriends that need a little extra hydration this winter, and this kitty lip balm from Forever 21. Your bridesmaids will look so cute for all the photo ops coming up, and they’ll have you to thank for it!

It’s finally December and the weather is seriously cooling down. Time to upgrade the Fall sweaters to winter coats (it’s okay- still totally cute). If you’re getting married soon, or have wedding activities on the horizon, you’re going to need to look your best even if you’re shivering and shaking. Whether you have photos, a shower, a party, or even the main event scheduled soon, we’ve got five awesome tips for this holiday season to keep you looking your best through the new year.

Lip Holidays

Loose lips may sink ships, but chapped lips ruin pictures. Since it’s been getting colder outside, your lips are going to be in much need of extra moisture. Every other day, go ahead and skip the lipstick in favor of a thick lip hydrating lip balm. We love the Jack Black lip balms- they have SPF and leave our lips so smooth. Wearing a lip color can be drying (although it looks SO good), so take breaks for yourself in between. If you have to wear lip color every day, at the very least go to sleep with a layer of lip balm on. Your lips will absorb while you’re sleeping and you’ll wake up with soft beautiful lips that are perfect for your first marital kiss.

Prime Time

If you’re going out and wearing those beautiful sparkly shades on your eyelids you’re going to need some serious primer. Holiday going into New Year’s Eve is the best time of the year to wear some chunky fun glitter. We love the MAC glitter to pile on for special occasions. The one downfall of fun glitter? It can get everywhere. Use a heavy duty primer before you pack it on. We love the Urban Decay Primer Potions and the Too Faced Glitter Glue (it’s specifically made for glitter! LOVE.). Keep that glitter where it needs to be- off of your ironic holiday sweaters and on your beautiful face for all the bachelorette parties you’ll get invited to this year.

Oil Up

You can’t miss out on moisturizing at all this year- seriously, everywhere. Now may be the time to pick up some cuticle oil for your nails in between manicures. Your manicurist will seriously thank you by the time you get your nails done for the big day. You can also mix some cuticle oil in your regular lotion to boost the moisture getting locked into your skin. If you want something on the go (i.e., not messy), Sally Hansen makes a cuticle oil pen for easy application right onto your nails.

Wear a Mask

Face masks are such a must for nights in, but are you also taking care of your hair? Hair masks are perfect for this time of year- especially if your hair reacts to the cold weather. If you get extra frizzy when it’s cold or rainy out (guilty!), a hair mask can do some serious damage to the factors doing damage to your hair. There are a TON of DIY hair masks you can find on pinterest that uses items from your fridge, or you can get to a salon or beauty store for a tub of hair mask. If you want to spend money, we love the It’s a 10! hair masks. They make your hair smooth, silky, and even smell that much better. Frizzy hair can make a beautiful bride look like an electrocution victim. Keep it smooth and you’ll look back on your glorious hair with fond memories.

Red-Balancers

One rough part of the cold- it makes your skin that much more sensitive. One big thing that happens to your skin in the cold is that it can get red really quickly. If your skin is a little too red, you can look sick or your blush can get really overwhelming. One of the best ways to combat this is to switch to a red-balance primer. Clinique makes a great one that is sensitive enough to never break you out, but powerful enough to keep you looking fantastic til you honeymoon in the Spring.

So, I am a Southern California girl, who is in total love with this winter engagement session. I don’t typically like the snowy type of weather, but there is something magical about this e-session that has won my warm California heart. This lovely winter scene with snow capped trees, and surrounded by freshly fallen snow is totally dreamy. The couple? Do I have to even mention how adorable they are? They are so obviously in love while surrounded by white beauty, that it doesn’t get more pretty than this! All captured so gorgeously by Jaime Davis Photography. Thank you to an incredible photographer like Jaime Davis Photography for opening my heart to this lovely winter snowy day. Smiling from cheek to cheek.

Kate and James were engaged over the summer of 2011 and got married July 2012. Kate is my best friend and while I was visiting her this winter in Oregon after they had a HUGE snow storm, I thought it would be fun to take some engagement photos since they did not have the chance to do that before their wedding. Kate and James loved the idea, and could not wait to get started. We headed to Mount Bachelor where it was about 15 degrees out. Yes, it was pretty cold, but I had such a blast capturing photos of such a lovely couple in such a gorgeous place, that I forgot how cold it really was. Kate and James are such a fun couple, that this e-session made me smile behinds the lens. It was a cold, but beautiful day!